Destinations

Features

Hotels

Tours

Mayan apocalypse: 100 places to see before the end of the world - part one

The world may end next week. Read part one of our guide to the best places to see before it does, including alternatives for those on a budget. 100. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia The world's largest salt flat covers an extraordinary 4,086 square miles and is found on the otherworldly Bolivian Altiplano - the most extensive area of high plateau outside Tibet. The flats sit at 3,656 metres above sea level (that's higher than Mount Etna), and are usually visited as part of a three-day jeep tour. The excursions, which can be arranged in the backpacker town of Uyuni, typically include stops at other attractions in the region, including the blood-red, flamingo-filled Laguna Colorada and the turquoise Laguna Verde, as well as hot springs (in which you can bathe), smouldering volcanoes, "islands" covered in cacti, and a hotel made entirely of salt. The vast whiteness of the landscape makes perspective photography a popular activity here. Read more The world's most surreal landscapesBolivia: llama pizza and tons of salt
Cheaper alternative? Salt flats, such as Las Salinas de Cabo de Gata, can be found in southern Spain - they're not nearly as spectacular, but do contains flamingoes. The Bonneville Salt Flats - known as the location for many land speed world records - are an easier alternative for US residents.